What is a Postpartum Doula?

Postpartum doula services provide invaluable support to new parents during the post-birth period. I provide emotional, physical, and informational assistance, helping parents navigate the challenges of recovery, newborn care, and the emotional aspects of parenthood. With my expertise dating back to 2008, I ensure that families have a smoother, more confident transition into this new phase of life. I offer in-home (Postpartum Doula Services) and virtual support (The First Year Support Program).

What is a Sleep Doula?

I have been known to wear many hats in my life and one of them is a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, but because I don’t work the same way other sleep consultants do, that title just doesn’t sit well with me!

Most sleep consultants focus on behavior modification which can work well for developmentally normal children who are ready for sleep coaching. But what if there are underlying issues like low/over milk supply, formula/food sensitivities, gut issues, reflux, or “colic”? Most sleep consultants have little to no training or knowledge in recognizing and/or equipped with the resources to help with these underlying factors that I have as a birth and postpartum doula since 2008.

And more importantly, I am and always will be a postpartum doula at heart. That means I am trained to support the whole family, not just the baby. I look at sleep in a holistic way addressing ALL the factors that could be impacting your little one’s sleep including the parent’s physical, mental and emotional health and abilities.

Not all postpartum doulas have specific training in infant and maternity sleep consulting, but I do! So I don’t consider myself a typical postpartum doula or sleep consultant. I provide a unique blend of support that helps families find the perfect balance of taking care of themselves, but also supporting their baby’s need for sleep in order to grow and thrive (and not cry all day!).

How is “The First Year Support Program” different than traditional postpartum doula support?

Traditional postpartum doula care includes having a postpartum doula come to your home to provide support and is being paid hourly. This support is virtual so I can provide all the support that I normally do with the exception of in-home tasks with a short and long term packages available at a MUCH lower total cost. Most postpartum doulas require a 4-6 week commitment which can run you $1,000’s. I’ve found amazing success with equipping parents with the education, practical tools and the confidence they need to navigate this journey without in-home care.

Every family has unique needs, but some things I can assist with are the following: advice on infant and parent sleep patterns, breastfeeding/bottle feeding support, recommendations for birthing preson’s recovery, guidance on newborn care, recognizing and responding to postpartum mood disorders, providing referrals and resources within the family's community, suggestions on household management and meal preparation (keeping cultural/religious traditions and recovery needs in mind!), suggestions on managing siblings with a newborn and baby product reviews and recommendations.

Why are you offering virtual services?

EVERYONE DESERVES SUPPORT POSTPARTUM!!! I have been passionate about birth and postpartum and have been working as a professional doula since 2008 and I passionately believe ALL families should have access to postpartum support. I have spent my career trying to find a way to provide that access to families who can’t afford in-home care.

Postpartum Doulas charge anywhere from $40-75 PER HOUR in the Seattle/Tacoma area where I live. I am a unique provider that specially trains to know how to care for you in the postpartum recovery (physically, mentally and emotionally), care for and teach you how to take care of your newborn as well as support, guide, and enhance your parenting experience. My focus is the whole family, in ALL aspects. Nothing is off limits with me!

With that said, I really wanted to provide an accessible option for all families because I understand baby’s come with many costs. My goal is to get your family in a place of recovery, confidence, and calm as quickly as possible. The faster you are feeling confident in your parenting, the sooner I can help more families!

What do you mean by emotional support?

I aim to provide a non-judgmental space to vent, cry, share your wins and make baby steps toward recovery when everything is changing and can feel overwhelming. I am a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear and a non-judgmental space to help you process this new adventure you’re on. I can help you process your birthing experience, normalize your experience of becoming a parent and help you navigate any bumps in the road that may come up. The road to parenthood is rarely an easy, smooth one, so I am here to hold your hand and support you along side you while we figure this out together.

What type of baby care skills can you help me with?

• Essential baby care skills, including comforting techniques, bathing, diapering (both cloth and disposable), swaddling, etc.

• Various feeding methods, nursing, bottle feeding, burping, pumping, formula feeding, and introducing solids, including baby-led weaning

• Education on normal infant behavior in each age and stage of the first year.

What type of parenting support do you provide?

• Establishing boundaries with self, partner, family, friends and the outside world.

• Transitioning into parenthood and all the changes that come along with it.

• Practical household management like providing ideas for organizing home and baby care systems for efficiency.

• Managing and reframing expectations for parenting, postpartum and infant care.